3 ms·

> but you can buy 32GB of RAM for $150 and install it yourself. what? Since when did they offer a DIY upgrade path?

by jdhawk 6y ago

apocalyptic0n3 6y ago
Haven't the iMac and Mac Mini always offered (relatively) easy memory upgrades? I've upgraded probably 10-15 of them at work. They just use the samller laptop modules instead of a desktop module, and (usually?) only support 2 modules. Mac Pro offers it too, though that's a different style of computer entirely.
- jeffbee 6y ago
  The post-lamp iMac has always offered user-replaceable SODIMM slots in a number sufficient to occupy all of the CPU's memory channels. The late 2009 model had 4 on the bottom, the 2015 has 2 one the back, these new ones have 2 and the Pro model has 4 (because the Pro CPU has 4 channels).
  - bluedino 6y ago
    They took the panel out of the 21" version for some reason.
  - jshier 6y ago
    27" iMac has always had 4 RAM slots.
    - jeffbee 6y ago
      I see. I assumed since all the catalog configs are 2-way they only had two slots, but I just opened mine and it has 4.
- savoytruffle 6y ago
  The current 2020/2018 (they are the same) Mac mini does use DIMMs, but it is not easy to entirely disassemble the computer to replace the RAM. Some (2014?) Mac minis didn't have replaceable memory at all. The 27" "regular" iMac is still using a design from late 2012 that has a simple door behind the stand hinge to very easily access the RAM. Even the iMac Pro has to be totally disassembled to change RAM!
mgolawala 6y ago
RAM on iMac's has been user upgrade-able since at least 2014. I have a 2014 27" iMac and a 2017 27" iMac, and I upgraded the RAM on both of them. It's not a crazy "disassemble half the machine" type job either, it is really easily done via a panel in the back.
- naravara 6y ago
  Only the 27" model has the access panel, the 21" model doesn't. I'm not actually sure if the RAM in the smaller one is soldered on or if it even has additional slots. But even if it does replacing it isn't something you can do easily.
easton 6y ago
Since always on the iMac, at least the 27 inch. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191
sparky_ 6y ago
iMacs have always had upgradeable RAM, just about the only user-serviceable part in them. There's a little door you can open on the back by the power connector. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191

> but you can buy 32GB of RAM for $150 and install it yourself. what? Since when did they offer a DIY upgrade path?

by jdhawk 6y ago

> but you can buy 32GB of RAM for $150 and install it yourself. what? Since when did they offer a DIY upgrade path?

Haven't the iMac and Mac Mini always offered (relatively) easy memory upgrades? I've upgraded probably 10-15 of them at work. They just use the samller laptop modules instead of a desktop module, and (usually?) only support 2 modules. Mac Pro offers it too, though that's a different style of computer entirely.

jeffbee 6y ago
The post-lamp iMac has always offered user-replaceable SODIMM slots in a number sufficient to occupy all of the CPU's memory channels. The late 2009 model had 4 on the bottom, the 2015 has 2 one the back, these new ones have 2 and the Pro model has 4 (because the Pro CPU has 4 channels).
- bluedino 6y ago
  They took the panel out of the 21" version for some reason.
- jshier 6y ago
  27" iMac has always had 4 RAM slots.
  - jeffbee 6y ago
    I see. I assumed since all the catalog configs are 2-way they only had two slots, but I just opened mine and it has 4.
savoytruffle 6y ago
The current 2020/2018 (they are the same) Mac mini does use DIMMs, but it is not easy to entirely disassemble the computer to replace the RAM. Some (2014?) Mac minis didn't have replaceable memory at all. The 27" "regular" iMac is still using a design from late 2012 that has a simple door behind the stand hinge to very easily access the RAM. Even the iMac Pro has to be totally disassembled to change RAM!

mgolawala 6y ago

RAM on iMac's has been user upgrade-able since at least 2014. I have a 2014 27" iMac and a 2017 27" iMac, and I upgraded the RAM on both of them. It's not a crazy "disassemble half the machine" type job either, it is really easily done via a panel in the back.

naravara 6y ago
Only the 27" model has the access panel, the 21" model doesn't. I'm not actually sure if the RAM in the smaller one is soldered on or if it even has additional slots. But even if it does replacing it isn't something you can do easily.

easton 6y ago

Since always on the iMac, at least the 27 inch. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191

sparky_ 6y ago

iMacs have always had upgradeable RAM, just about the only user-serviceable part in them. There's a little door you can open on the back by the power connector. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191